Repeal and Replacement of Conflict Minerals Rule 1502 Undermines Peace and Stability in the Congo

Apr 4, 2017 | Lauren Compere
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The cell phone in your pocket or laptop you may be reading this on could contain minerals used to fund militia groups and war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The conflict is ongoing and only last week, American UN researcher Michael Sharp, his Swedish colleague, and their interpreter were all found murdered. This in the same central DRC region where 42 police officers were beheaded a few weeks ago.

One of the few glimmers of hope that the Congolese people have had in recent years has been the ‘Conflict Minerals Section 1502’ of the Dodd-Frank Act – passed in the U.S. in 2010 with the aim of reducing revenue flows to DRC militia groups. The law helps create demand by multinational corporations to only source certified “conflict-free” minerals, thereby driving momentum for mines in the DRC to de-militarize and cease funding to the militia groups fueling conflict.